Doctor Says Jeter's Recovery Could Take 4 or 5 Months

New York Times—October 17, 2012

Dr. Robert B. Anderson is expected to perform surgery on the fractured left ankle of New York Yankees' Derek Jeter. His estimated recovery time is four to five months.

“Bob has a great reputation, and a lot of agents use him,” said Dr. Matthew M. Roberts, a foot and ankle specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Roberts said Anderson’s recovery estimate mirrors what he sees in his own patients.

Roberts said Jeter most likely broke the fibula, the bone on the outside of the ankle. Such breaks, he said, typically heal in six weeks after surgery.

“The reason to do the surgery is to make sure he doesn’t have a problem with instability, the bone not healing in the right position, or the bone not healing at all,” Roberts said.

Once the bone heals, Roberts said, patients need at least six weeks of physical therapy, perhaps more. Roberts sees no reason Jeter should not be ready for the start of the regular season.